Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Once you’ve reached your hotel and checked in, keep the first outing easy: head to Tokyo Station in Marunouchi for a roughly 45-minute look at its grand brick façade and busy rail concourse. The station is large, so follow signs for the Marunouchi exit; if you’re arriving with luggage, leave it at the hotel or use station lockers rather than navigating the concourse with bags.
From the station, stroll Marunouchi Naka-dori, a pleasant, tree-lined street of shops and cafés. Give it about 45 minutes at an unhurried pace. Seasonal illuminations often appear around mid-November, but timing varies by year, so treat them as a bonus rather than a certainty. Finish at KITTE Garden, the free rooftop garden atop the KITTE shopping complex, for about 30 minutes of views over the station and its rail lines. Opening hours can vary by day and season; check the posted hours before heading up.
For dinner, go to Ginza Kagari Honten in Ginza—about a 15-minute walk from KITTE, or a short ride on the Marunouchi subway line from Tokyo Station to Ginza. Its rich chicken ramen is a comforting first-night meal; budget roughly ¥1,500–¥2,500 per person. It’s popular, so allow time for a queue, and check that evening’s hours before setting out, as service times can change.
Start at Senso-ji in Asakusa while the temple grounds are still relatively calm; allow about 1½ hours to see the main hall and wander the incense-filled courtyard. The grounds are open around the clock and free to enter, though the main hall generally opens from 6:30 a.m. in the cooler months and closes in the late afternoon. Then follow Nakamise-dori Street toward the gate, browsing its traditional snack and souvenir stalls for about 45 minutes. Many shops open around 9–10 a.m., but hours vary, so an early start may mean quieter streets and some shutters still down.
For a casual lunch, stop at Asakusa Imahan Kokonoe for freshly made sukiyaki-style beef croquettes and other snacks; budget roughly ¥1,000–¥2,000 per person and check the shop’s hours on the day, as they can vary. Afterward, take the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line from Asakusa Station to Ueno Station—about five minutes, plus station walking time—and spend around 1½ hours unwinding on the broad paths of Ueno Park. In mid-November, you may catch autumn color, though the timing varies by year.
Finish with an hour wandering Ameyoko Shopping Street, the lively market district between Ueno and Okachimachi stations. Browse its food stalls and shops, or grab a casual bite if you’re hungry again; many businesses stay open into the evening, but individual closing times differ. The market is close to the park’s south and east edges, so you can walk there rather than doubling back to the station.
Start at Meiji Jingu, reached from Harajuku Station or Meiji-jingumae Station. Follow the broad, wooded approach to the shrine; allow about 1½ hours for the walk and grounds. Entry is free, and the grounds generally open around sunrise and close around sunset, so check seasonal hours before setting out. Then head to Takeshita Street, a short walk away. Give yourself about 45 minutes to browse the colorful shops and pick up a crepe or other street snack; shop hours vary, and the narrow street gets busy later in the day.
Walk or take a short taxi ride to Maisen Aoyama Honten for tonkatsu in its distinctive former bathhouse building. Budget about an hour and roughly ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person; lunchtime can mean a wait, so arrive a little before the peak if you can. Afterward, stroll Omotesando at an unhurried pace—its architecture and flagship shops make for good window-shopping even if you’re not buying. Allow around 1½ hours; individual store hours vary, with many shops opening late morning and closing in the evening.
Continue toward Shibuya Scramble Crossing—it’s roughly a 20–25-minute walk from the Omotesando area, or a quick subway ride from Omotesando Station to Shibuya Station. Spend about 45 minutes watching the crossing from street level and exploring the surrounding blocks; for a higher view, nearby observation venues may require advance tickets and timed entry, so check availability rather than counting on walk-in access.
At Hakone-Yumoto Station, leave your bags with your accommodation or at station lockers, then allow roughly 1½–2 hours for arrival, luggage drop-off, and a quick look around the compact station area. Shops and cafés cluster along the main street, making this a handy place to grab a snack before heading uphill. The Hakone Tozan Railway to Gora takes about 40 minutes; settle in for the switchbacks and mountain views, especially lovely if the autumn leaves are still showing.
From Gora, take the railway one stop to Chokoku-no-Mori Station for the Hakone Open-Air Museum. Give yourself 2–3 hours for the outdoor sculpture gardens and indoor galleries; it’s generally open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry around 4:30 p.m. Admission is about ¥2,000 for adults. Afterward, return to Gora for a relaxed meal at Gora Brewery & Grill—budget roughly ¥3,000–¥6,000 per person, and check its current hours or reserve ahead, as service can vary.
Head to your Hakone ryokan with enough time to check in and enjoy the onsen before dinner. Many ryokan serve dinner at a set time and require advance arrangements for meals, so confirm your arrival time and dinner plan directly with your accommodation; if dinner is included, don’t leave the restaurant stop too late.
Allow about 3–4 hours door to door from Hakone to Kyoto, including getting to Odawara Station, managing luggage, and transferring on arrival. Check the current Hakone train or bus timetable and Shinkansen schedules before choosing a morning departure; you’ll need a little buffer for station navigation and boarding. Buy the Hakone–Odawara ticket locally, and consider reserving the Shinkansen through SmartEX. The combined trip is roughly ¥13,000–¥14,000, depending on your route and train.
At Kyoto Station, take about an hour to get oriented, collect or forward your luggage, and continue to your accommodation. Once you’ve settled in, head to Nishiki Market in central Kyoto. Browse the covered lanes at an easy pace and pick up a few small bites—many stalls begin winding down later in the day, so aim to arrive with time to spare. Allow 1–1½ hours; individual stall prices vary, so bring some cash as well as an IC card.
Stay nearby for dinner at Ippudo Nishikikoji, a convenient ramen stop close to the market. Budget roughly ¥1,500–¥2,500 per person and allow about an hour; queues can form at busy times, so be flexible if you arrive during the dinner rush. After a travel day, keep the rest of the evening unplanned and enjoy a gentle first look around central Kyoto.
Start early at Kiyomizu-dera in Higashiyama; it’s best before the approach roads fill with tour groups. Allow about two hours for the temple buildings and the famous wooden terrace overlooking Kyoto. The temple typically opens early, but check its current hours and entry arrangements before you go; admission is usually around ¥500. From there, walk downhill to Sannenzaka, allowing about an hour to browse its preserved lanes and small shops. The stone slope can be slippery in wet weather, so take it slowly.
Continue on foot into Gion for an early-afternoon wander among its traditional streets and architecture, keeping to public roads and well away from private lanes. Give yourself about 1½ hours, then stop at Gion Tanto for Kyoto-style okonomiyaki; budget roughly ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person. It can get busy around lunch, so expect a possible wait and check its current opening hours.
Finish at Kennin-ji, an easy walk from central Gion. Allow about 1½ hours for the temple grounds, garden, and painted ceiling. Check the day’s hours and last-entry time before setting out—temples often stop admitting visitors well before closing—so aim to arrive with a comfortable buffer. Today’s sights are close enough to link on foot; comfortable shoes will make the hillside lanes much easier.
Head to Arashiyama early by taking the JR Sagano Line from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama Station (about 15 minutes), then walk roughly 10 minutes to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Aim to arrive around sunrise or soon after: the path is free and open at all hours, but it gets busy quickly. Allow about 45 minutes to wander, and keep moving through the narrowest stretch so everyone can enjoy it.
Continue to Tenryu-ji, next to the grove. Its garden is a lovely change of pace, with borrowed mountain scenery and ponds; allow about 1½ hours. The garden typically opens at 8:30 a.m., with separate admission for the garden and temple buildings (budget roughly ¥500–¥800 depending on what you visit). Check current hours and entry arrangements before setting out.
Walk to Arashiyama Yoshimura for soba with a view toward the river and mountains. Plan on about an hour and roughly ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person; it’s popular, so expect a possible wait at lunchtime. If the weather is clear, request a window-side seat when you check in, but don’t count on one being available.
After lunch, stroll across Togetsukyo Bridge and along the riverbank, allowing about 45 minutes for the crossing and a relaxed look at the scenery. Then walk uphill to Okochi Sanso Garden for a quieter finish among its paths, tea houses, and garden views. Allow about 1½ hours; admission is around ¥1,000 and includes matcha and a small sweet. The garden generally closes in the late afternoon, often around 5 p.m., so check the current hours and leave enough time for the walk up. From there, return to Saga-Arashiyama Station on foot and take the JR Sagano Line back to Kyoto Station.
Start at Kinkaku-ji when it opens, usually 9 a.m.; admission is about ¥500, and allow 1½ hours for the pond-side view and garden. It’s a busy, one-way visit, so arriving early makes a real difference. From there, take a local bus toward Ryoan-ji or walk roughly 25 minutes; allow another 1½ hours for the temple and rock garden. Admission is about ¥600, with seasonal hours—check the current schedule before setting out.
For Koryu-ji, take the Randen tram from the Ryoanji-michi area toward Uzumasa-Koryuji; the ride and short walks take around 20–30 minutes. Set aside 1½ hours for the grounds and sculpture collection. The temple’s paid areas generally close in the late afternoon, so don’t let the morning visits drift; check current entry hours and fees before you go.
Continue to Matsunoo Taisha for an hour at this quieter sake-associated shrine. From Uzumasa-Koryuji, expect roughly 35–45 minutes by tram and Hankyu train, with a transfer; check live directions, as bus connections can also be convenient. Finish at Honke Owariya for soba—but note that its central restaurant is generally a daytime, not dinner, stop, and may close well before evening. To keep the listed order, aim to arrive in the late afternoon and verify that day’s hours; if it’s closed, you’ll need to move the meal earlier or choose another evening. Budget about ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person when dining there.
Allow about 1–1½ hours door to door to travel from Kyoto, reach your Osaka accommodation, and drop your bags; leave the rest of the morning unhurried. Once you’re settled, head to Osaka Castle Park in Chuo. The park grounds are free and open daily, with broad lawns and moat-side paths that make a good leg-stretch after the transfer; give yourself about 1½ hours to wander.
Continue on foot to Osaka Castle, inside the park. The museum and observation area usually take 1½–2 hours; admission is roughly ¥1,200, and the museum is generally open 9 a.m.–6 p.m., with last entry before closing. Check current hours and ticket details before you go, especially if you’re arriving late in the day.
Head to Namba for takoyaki at Takoyaki Wanaka Sennichimae—budget around ¥600–¥1,500 per person and about 45 minutes to eat. Then walk to Dotonbori for an easy canal-side evening stroll beneath the neon signs; allow about an hour, or linger if the lively streets tempt you to browse.
Start at Kuromon Ichiba Market in Namba and give yourself about 1½ hours to browse the seafood, fruit, and snack stalls. Many shops open in the morning, but hours vary; arriving around 9–10 a.m. gives you a good selection before the busiest stretch. Pick up a few small bites rather than committing to a full meal—some vendors have limited seating, and prices vary by stall.
Walk about 10 minutes to Hozenji Yokocho, a narrow, atmospheric lane of stone paving and small restaurants tucked just off the main streets. Spend around 45 minutes exploring and visiting Hozenji Temple; the temple is free to enter, and the moss-covered statue is a local favorite. From here, Mizuno in Dotonbori is an easy walk for lunch. This long-running okonomiyaki restaurant typically serves from late morning, but hours can change; expect a possible queue and allow 1–1½ hours. Budget roughly ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person.
From Dotonbori, take the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line from Namba Station to Umeda Station—about 10 minutes on the train, plus time to navigate the station passages. Head to Umeda Sky Building for its rooftop observatory and city views; allow about 1½ hours, and check current access details and admission prices before you go. On a clear day, the late-afternoon light is especially rewarding.
Finish at Grand Front Osaka, a short walk from Umeda Sky Building. Browse the shops and settle into a café for a relaxed break before the evening; allow about 1½ hours, with café spending depending on your order. The complex’s shops and restaurants generally keep later hours than the observation deck, but individual businesses vary, so check if you have a particular stop in mind.
No packing list attached yet.